Roxanne (1987)

Director:

Fred Schepisi

Writers:

Edmond Rostand (play)
Steve Martin (screenplay)

Release Date:

19 June 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Roxanne dreamed of a handsome, intelligent, romantic man. C.D. Bales is two out of three... but looks aren't everything!

Plot:

Based on the play "Cyrano de Bergerac", large nosed C.D. Bales falls for the beautiful Roxanne while she falls for his personality but another man's looks.

Plot Keywords:

Secret Admirer | Impersonation | Deception | Nose Joke | Astronomy

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 3 wins

US TV Schedule:

Sun. June 1

1:00 PM

OXYGEN

Cast

Steve Martin	...	C.D. 'Charlie' Bales
Daryl Hannah	...	Roxanne Kowalski
Rick Rossovich	...	Chris McConnell
Shelley Duvall	...	Dixie
John Kapelos	...	Chuck
Fred Willard	...	Mayor Deebs
Max Alexander	...	Dean
Michael J. Pollard	...	Andy
Steve Mittleman	...	Ralston
Damon Wayans	...	Jerry
Matt Lattanzi	...	Trent
Shandra Beri	...	Sandy the Barmaid
Blanche Rubin	...	Sophie
Jane Campbell	...	Dottie
Jean Sincere	...	Nina

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (DeLuxe)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:PG | Portugal:M/12 | Finland:S | Sweden:7 | UK:PG | USA:PG | West Germany:6 | Norway:7 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Nelson, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

When C.D. is challenged to think of 20 better jokes than "big nose", one of them, "you must love the little birdies that you give them this to perch on" is taken directly from the original scene in Cyrano De Bergerac.

Goofs:

Factual errors: When Charlie Bales complains about "boring" numbers for astronomical objects, he opposes numbered objects like M31 to named objects like Andromeda. M31 is Andromeda.

Quotes:

C.D. Bales: [after Mayor Deebs tells him about his idea to use a cow as the Oktoberfest mascot] I think it's brilliant! What an idea! And I was there! He took the idea! He saw it ripe on the tree, he plucked it, and he put it in his pocket. It's, it's, dare I say... genius? Ah, no, no! But maybe, ooh! ah! maybe it is! Maybe I'm in the presence of greatness, maybe I just don't know it. But I saw it...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The 100 Scariest Movie Moments" (2004) (mini)

Soundtrack:

CAN THIS BE LOVE

A Cinematic Mongrel

This movie is gorgeous. It has the look of La Dolce Vita -- only in color. Now, please, calm down: I'm not saying it's anywhere near as good as La Dolce Vita. I'm just saying that when I look at it, framing-wise, it's clear that Schepisi has done a good amount of homework. (Schepisi is an Italian name, no?)

So we have a more or less Italian take on a French story with an American comic by an Australian director. This probably should have resulted in a horribly expensive exercise in mediocrity. Instead, it's one of the most delightful films ever made. I've used it several times as an antidote to the evening news. Good Christmas gift.